Monday, February 26, 2007

Roberto Clemente (stuff I'm Reading)


Stuff I’m Reading.

Clemente: The Passion and Grace of Baseball’s Last Hero by David Maraniss


The book makes the case for why Roberto Clemente,who played 18 seasons in right field for the Pittsburgh Pirates,
is to Latin Americans what Jackie Robinson is to African Americans. It makes the case that he was not only a great baseball player, but a genuinely great human being. It is definitely written from a hero-worship perspective, but by the time you have gotten through it, you realize it is totally justified.
Just the descriptions of the ‘60 and ‘71 World Series make this a must-read for all baseball fans. And, no shit, I was almost in tears by the end (but, you know, I didn't cry because I'm a man {sort of} so I can’t cry. Instead I went out and chopped some wood and changed my oil like 50 times), after the telling of the plane crash that killed him in his effort to help earthquake victims in Nicaragua.

One thing I thought was interesting: the Author’s juxtaposition of Clemente and Howard Hughes. Hughes, who in his later nutball years, was holed up in Nicaragua, isolated from the world and then being hustled out of the country by his entourage. Hughes, with quite literally limitless resources and the great ability to help the people of Nicaragua, fled the country, while Clemente died trying to help them. Yeah, I know Hughes was crazy, but which one do you think is burning in hell?

With Spring Training getting going, this book made me excited as hell for the season to start, even if my team is the perennially sucky Baltimore Orioles.





www.daveygandthekeyboard.com

Thursday, February 22, 2007

Early News of the Davey G CD Release

The Davey G and the Keyboard CD release is officially on, scheduled for Saturday, November 10. It’s a long way away, the theory being that giving my songs time to settle in to the public consciousness will make it all the sweeter for the fans when the album actually comes out. Also, it will give me time to play the songs out live and see if they work. And time to write and throw away songs. Time to do an album cover. Time to heal, and move in to my new studio (very soon!).
Many more details coming…for now, just forget about it, and come to the show at the Sidebar on March 27.
www.daveygandthekeyboard.com

Monday, February 19, 2007

Dr. Demento



This is the rejection letter I got from Dr. Demento in 1992 for my album “Wicked Personal Experience.” Just yesterday I sent him another CD--apparently he’s still kicking, 30 years in.
I used to listen to the Dr. Demento show every Sunday night, back in Pittsfield, even taping the shows, and I’ve realized how much of my musical taste and selections have come from that show. It was the first place I heard They Might Be Giants, Wild Man Fischer, many Frank Zappa and Weird Al songs.
Here’s hoping that my Davey G and the Keyboard incarnation makes it to the Funny Five!

www.daveygandthekeyboard.com

Very Exciting News!



(photos by Alex J.)

The first 5 songs for the new album, Chairman of the Keyboard, have been recorded! There’s a long way to go, but we’re hoping for a November release, maybe at a real place.

Thursday, in the remains of the snow we had a few days earlier, which makes parking and getting around more difficult, I brought my stuff and a case of beer to Alex’s and got to work.

Now, hopefully very soon, I will put a new song up on my site for all the world to hear, probably “Handshake,” which those of you who have been to my last two shows have heard but others haven’t. I also have “Bad Posture,” which came out better than expected, with a lot of impotent rage coming through on a screaming background track. It’s coming along well.
www.daveygandthekeyboard.com

Monday, February 12, 2007

Anyone have thoughts on a new Davey G Cover song?

Writing is hard. Music is easier. When stressing about writing, doing my “music” works for me so much better. After a few hours of practice today, my brain hit upon a new song that poured out of me in a stream of ridiculousness. It’s called “I Wanna Be a Real Musician.” I think it could be a hit.
I toy with the idea of doing a new cover song for the next album, or even for the Sidebar
show next month (March 27). I have been doing
Judas Priest’s “Breaking the Law” for over 5 years, and I love it so, I do so love it, but sometimes I think the act could benefit from a freshening up. My new songs will help, but a familiar cover never hurts. My particular challenge: doing a song I can handle, that I could gently make fun of, that people would recognize.
Any thoughts?

www.daveygandthekeyboard.com

Saturday, February 10, 2007

A special announcement for readers of the blog!

Ever been screwed over by a bad roommate? Do you have an awful story about someone you lived with that you just have to share? Can you write it yourself so I don’t have to? Then submit it to my new project!

Hello, I’m here to destroy your Life: A zine about Bad Roommates

In modern society, it is often practical and expedient to find a like-minded individual with whom to share a living space and expenses. This ‘zine is about when that arrangement goes bad. I’m talking about that person you live with whose very soul is pure evil. Whose very presence sucks the life out of an otherwise good house, or good apartment. The person who does such harm to you, intentional or unintentional that it scars you and makes you unwilling to ever trust another human being again.

Do you have such a story?

I am looking for your best story about your worst roommate; you write it however you want, and send it to me--preferably in an e-mail and I will get it printed and send it around to the local stores in Baltimore that sell ‘zines, as well as put it up on my site, and myspace, and all that, and see where it goes. I am not talking huge exposure: just a small run ‘zine that hopefully people will read and love. It may look alarmingly like my Davezine.
If that is okay with you, then we are in business.
This is an idea that I have had for years as roommate after roommate has screwed me over either financially or emotionally. Here’s hoping that sharing our collected pain will help the healing process.
Go to www.daveygandthekeyboard.com and go to the “Contact Me” link. Don’t get mad if I don’t use your story, or if it takes me a while to get this done. I am just a lowly ‘zine editor who isn’t used to collaborating--your submission will help me to push through and get this idea out of my system for good. If you have any questions, comment or contact me via my site or myspace.

Thanks!

Thursday, February 08, 2007

Lost Bureaucrats

Watching a “Survivor’s Guide” for “Lost”
last night, the creators talked about planting “Easter Eggs” in their episodes: little threads where certain characters we know from the island interact in the flashbacks. In my new story, Low Level Bureaucrats 3, I am attempting something similar, by tying minor characters from part one and two into the action of part three, possibly giving them more depth from their previous appearances. Of course, the TV show is a mystery and my story is sort of a political satire, but I can appreciate the difficulty of continuity and figuring everything out.
Of the creative projects I am undertaking lately, this one is the hardest. Basically the plot has to do with Karl Love’s final revenge against the city of Beatown and I’ve had to go over it a lot to make it make sense, especially with new ideas that I know would make it better.
One thought about how everyone is bitching about the new season of Lost and how much it sucks: if you have been a fan of the first two seasons, doesn’t this show deserve to be cut a little slack for lagging a little? I mean, after all, hasn’t it entertained us for free for two whole years?
Maybe I'm just too sensitive.


I watch TV.

Monday, February 05, 2007

Early Announcement for Next Show!

Save the Date:
Tuesday, March 27
Davey G and the Keyboard With Lebanon (Tel Aviv!)
at the Sidebar, 218 E. Lexington Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21202
Doors at 9, bands at 9:30.

My first show since December, assuming nothing else comes up, and also my first opportunity to play new songs live. I’m excited to play this club--I feel like there is a void since the Talking Head closed shop, and maybe this place is ripe to fill it. It’s at least fortunate that it is only a block from where TH was.

http://www.sidebartavern.com/shows.html


www.daveygandthekeyboard.com